Machine for driving slopes and air courses in mines



MACHINE FOR DRIVING SLOPES AND AIR COURSES IN MINES Filed June 24, 1944 3' Sheets-Sheet 1 Erskine Earnsay.

' INVENTOR E. RAMSAY 2,384,397

MACHINE FOR DRIVING SLOPES AND AIR couRsEs m MINES Sept. 4, 1945.

s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1944 INVENTOR BY ATI' Sept. 4, 1945. E. RAMSAY 2,384,397

MACHINE FOR DRIVING SLOPES AND AIR COURSES IN MINES Filed June 24, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Erskine 180M505.- F19: 4 I NVENTOR Patented Sept. 4, 1945 MACHINE FOR DRIVING SLOPES AND AIR COURSES IN MINES Erskine Ramsay, Birmingham, Ala.

Application June 24, 1944, Serial No. 542,019

2 Claims.

My invention relates to mining machinery,

and more particularly to a machine for driving air courses and slopes in mines, and has for an object the provision of a machine of the character designated which shall be adapted to drive an air course or a slope which shall be self-supporting, with a minimum of labor and a maxiform of I beams, and which extend from the rear of the machine towards the front, flaring outmum of efficiency, and with a consequent minimum of expense.

A further object of my invention is to provide a machine for driving slopes and air courses in mines which shall include a system of cutters rotating at the front of the machine to make a cylindrical cut the full width of the course being driven, together with mechanical conveying means for removing the material broken down.

A further object of my invention is to provide a machine for driving slopes and air courses in mines which shall include a plurality of gangs of cutters rotating in opposite directions at the front end of the machine to cut a cylindrical, self-supporting course, with a minimum of torsional strain on the machine, which machine shall be self propelled whereby to move forwardly as the operation proceeds.

Briefly, my invention comprises a self propelled vehicle having mounted on the front thereof a plurality of gangs of cutters adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis in front of the machine, the gangs operating in opposite directions to minimize the torsional strain on the machine, together with a mechanical conveyor to remove material broken down by the cutters in their rotation. Means are provided to guide the machine laterally and to incline it downwardly or upwardly whereby it is adapted to follow the irregularities of the structure through which the course is being driven.

Other important features of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view of the apparatus taken approximately through the center thereof;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken approximately at right angles to the showing of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken along the line I III-III of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show frame members 5 and 6 which may conveniently be in the on the frame plate I.

wardly from front to rear. Mounted beneath the frame members 5 and 6 is a frame plate I which extends from the rear of theinachine forwardly the full length of the I beams 5 and 6. Extend ing across the rear of the machine, beneath the plate I, are I beams 8 and 9, and extending down--- wardly from the plate I on both sidesof the machine between the beams 8 and 9 are guidemembers l0 and II, which are braced by diagonal braces l2'and l3. Mounted in theguides Ill and H are bearings I4 and I6 for supporting wheels I]. Mounted on the I beams 5 and 6, above the. bearings I4 and I6, are plates I8 having threaded openings therein through which jack screws l9 extend to engage the bearings and to raise and lower the supporting wheels H with respectto the frame. Hand wheels 20 are provided to operate the jack screws. j

The front of the machine is supported from drive wheels 2| and 22. See Fig. 3. I The drive wheels 2| and 22 are mounted in a housing 23' which may be mounted in any suitable manner The housing 23 also includes gear housings 24 and 26. Mounted in the gear housings 24 and 26 are worm gears 21 and 28 which are; secured to axles 29 and 3l upon Which the drive wheels 2| and 22 are mounted.

The drive wheels 2l and 22 are driven, and' the machine thus propelled from a reversible driving motor 32 which, with its controller 33,

is mounted on the frame plate! between the beams 5 and 6 towards the rear of the machine.

The motor 32 has connected to the opposite end of its shaft, worms 34 and 36 which mesh with worm gears 31 and 38. The wormgears 31- and 38 are mounted in suitablehousings 39 secured to the underside of the frame plate I and are mounted on drive shafts 4| and 42, at the opposite ends of which are mounted worms 43 and,

which mesh with the wormgears 21' and 28 to drive the drivewheels 2i and 2 2. I,

It will be seen that the inclination of the machine with respect to the horizontal may be'varated by hand wheels 45, which jack screws are mounted in brackets 48 and 49, respectively, on therear of the I beams 5 and 6. At the outer ends of the jack screws Sand 41' are bearing plates 5| and 52, respectively, which are adapted 4 to bear against the sidesof the course being" driven. By varying the pressure on the plates 5| and 52, the forward direction which the machine assumes may be altered. By reversing the direction of the motor 32, the machine may be withdrawn from the course, or driven forwardly. The cutting mechanism embodied in my improved machine is mounted on a shaft 53 which extends horizontally forward of the machine and which is mounted in bearings 54 and 56. The lower half 51 of th'e'bearing 56 is shown in Fig. 3 mountedon the forward end of the I beams 5 and 6. means of a plate 58 which is secured at the rear beneath the lower half 51 of the bearing 56,; and:

which extends upwardly, then forwardly and downwardly as shown at 59, the downwardly extending portion 59 being joined to the bearing The forward bearing 54 is supported by cutting tool 93 has connected thereto a feed screw 94 which in turn is connected to a shaft 96 mounted in a bearing 91, secured to the I beam 6. The shaft 96 has secured thereto a hand wheel 98, whereby the screw may be rotated to feed the cutting tool 93 inwardly and to retract it outwardly of the sleeve 88, and thus drive the ventilating cross out between the adjacent passages I00 and NI, indicated in Fig. 4. I

j In order to keep down dust, and to aid in the action of the cutters, I provide means for spraying the face of the course and the cutting tools with water while the machine is in operation.

This means comprises a pump I02, driven by a motor I03, and which discharges through a conduit I04 to a suitable sprinkling header I06. The

I water for this purpose may be obtained from that 54. Also joined to the lower half of the bearing- 54 is a member 6I which extends downwardly and then rearwardly to join the housing 23. will be understood that the parts just described will be joined together by any suitable means,

not shown.

Mounted within the space defined by the supporting members 59 and 6| is a spur gear 60 which is secured to the shaft 53. Surrounding the shaft 53 within the bearing 54 is a sleeve 62,- thus form-' ing a double bearing with the bearing 54. The

sleeve 62 is rotatable with respect to the shaft 53 extend forwardly .to engage the face of the coursebeing driven, describing a conical pattern in their rotation. Forwardly of the conical body 64 is a second, smaller conical body 68 which is secured to the shaft 53 to rotate therewith. The conical body 68 carries a plurality of rows of arms 69 each having a cutter 'II on the forward end thereof to engage the face of the course being driven. A third, still smaller conical body I2 having rows of cutter bearing arms 13 thereon is mounted .at the forward end of the'shaft 53 to complete the cutting of the cylindrical course being driven. Finally, a boring tool I5 is secured directly to the end of the shaft 53. The conical member. 64 is provided with an internal gear I4 which is spaced from, and opposed to the gear wheel 60 mounted on the shaft 53. v

The cutting mechanism just described is driven, by two motors I8 and 19, mounted respectively at 8I and 82 on the frame plate 'I. The shafts of the motors 18 and I9 have mounted on their forward ends, pinions 83 and 84, respectively, which pinions extend into the space between the gears 14 and I6 and mesh therewith. The forward gangs of cutters, mounted on the conical members 68 and I2, are thus driven with the shaft through the medium of the gear 62, while the rear gangs of cutters, carried by the conical members 64 are driven through the sleeve 62 and rotate in the opposite direction. I 1

As is well understood in the art to which my invention relates, it is necessary and desirable that there be provided ventilating cross cuts between adjacent air courses. In Figs.1 and 4 of the drawings I show the means provided in my improved machine for accomplishing this purpose. Mounted in bearings 86 and 81, which are suitably secured to the frame plate I, is a hollow rotary sleeve 88, having mounted on one end a gear 89, which meshes with a pinion 9 I, driven by a motor 92. Mounted within the hollow sleeve-88 and rotatable therewith is a cutting tool 93. The

ordinarily found in mine workings and accordingly I show the suction pipe I 01 for the pump I02 extending downwardly and forwardly to pick up water by suction from the lower part of the course. If suflicient water is not thus available, it may .be supplied to the pump I02 from any other available source, not shown.

In order that material broken down by the gangs of cutters may be removed out of the way as it is broken down, I show a conveyor I08 mounted in a suitable frame I09, driven by any suitable means, not shown, and which is disposed beneath the machine, between the driving wheels 2| and 22 and has its forward end positioned just to the rear of the cutter arms 66. Such conveyors are well known in connection with mining machinery and require no detailed description. As the machine moves forwardly, it is contemplated that the conveyor frame I09 is moved forwardly so that its flights I II can pick up the material being broken down and carry it away, rearwardly of the machine. Mechanism for accomplishing this purpose is shown in my prior Patent No. 2,320,653, issued June 1, 1943.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved machine will be readily apparent. The machine is driven slowly forward by means of the motor 32 acting through the worm gears shown. As the machine moves forwardly, the gangs of cutters 61, II and I3, rotating in opposite directions, break down the face of the course being driven so that it falls down to be picked up and carried away by the conveyor I08. The downward or upward inclination of the machine is controlled by the rear wheels I1 and the jack screws I9. The lateral direction of this machine in its operation is controlled by means of pressure on the plates 5| and 52 which can be varied by jack screws 46 and 41. Ventilating cross cuts between the adjacent courses may be cut by means of the rotary tool 93. Whenever it is desired to remove the machine from a course, the direction of rotation of the motor 32 is reversed and the machine is then driven in the opposite direction.

It will be seen from a consideration of Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings that the gangs of cutters in their rotation describe a conical pattern, having its apex at the front of the machine in the cutting tool I5, and flaring outwardly to the cutters 61 carried by the conical member 64. This pattern of movement greatly aids in the breaking down of the material through which the course is being driven. The breaking down action ,of cutters 66, carried by the conical member 64,

in one direction, while those rotating with the shaft 53 rotate in the opposite direction.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have devised an improved machine for driving slopes and air courses in mines, which is simple of construction and operation, and which is adapted to drive a cylindrical, self-supporting course, in a minimum of time, with a minimum of labor and at minimum expense.

Whle I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, Without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a mining machine, a main frame, means mounted on the frame for supporting and propelling the machine, cutting mechanism mounted on the frame, projecting forwardly from the machine and rotating about a horizontal axis to cut a cylindrical course, and other cutting mechanism mounted on the frame, projecting laterally from the machine and rotating about a horizontal axis to cut ventilating cross passages.

2. In a mining machine, a main frame, means mounted on the frame for supporting and propelling the machine, a shaft mounted on the frame and projecting forwardly therefrom, a plurality of rows of cutters mounted to rotate about the shaft in a conical pattern in the front of the machine, means to drive some of the cutters in one direction and the remainder in the opposite direction, and other cutting mechanism mounted on the frame projecting laterally from the machine and rotating about a horizontal axis to cut ventilating cross passages.

ERSKINE RAMSAY. 

